Style Edit: Zendaya becomes the latest Rolex Testimonee from the world of film
The Dune actress joins an elite group of Rolex Testimonees in the field of motion pictures, underscoring the brand’s long-time links with cinema
In the early 20th century, when an age of modernity was dawning, two era-defining marvels made headlines within a year of each other.
The first was the unveiling of a revolutionary waterproof wristwatch – known as the Oyster – by the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, in October 1926. A year later, in October 1927, followed the release of The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson. Incorporating recorded music and lip-synchronous singing, the film heralded the commercial breakthrough of sound in cinema.
The young American actor – most recently known for her portrayal of Chani in the Dune films – was announced as a Rolex Testimonee in October. With more than 177 million Instagram followers at the time of writing, and a well-known penchant for Rolex, Zendaya makes perfect sense as a Testimonee for a brand that has always known how to connect with the spirit of the age.
Her prolific output – in 2026 alone, she will appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and the third instalment of Dune, as well as Shrek 5, The Drama and Spider-Man: Brand New Day – will keep her in front of moviegoing audiences. Meanwhile, her advocacy for causes related to gender and racial justice – campaigning that has already seen her declared one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine – looks set to burnish her reputation as one of Hollywood’s most inspirational role models. As the exclusive watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the primary Oscars sponsor and the exclusive sponsor of the Governors Awards (organised by the Academy to honour lifetime achievements), Rolex is deeply committed to the celebration of cinema as an art form throughout the ages.
The creation of that link between the past, present and future is part of the brand’s own story – as is giving recognition to the rise of new talent such as Zendaya and nurturing its ties to the world of film. As Al Jolson famously said in The Jazz Singer, “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”